Children's Day in Khao Phanom

Saturday morning January 10 at 8:10 we got a call from the Khao Phanom City office telling us that we were late for the beginning of the annual Children’s Day Program. Our intention was to be at the city office at 9AM (not realizing until the phone call that the program began earlier at 8). But we still had to wait for 2 other missionary friends who were going with us to help. They too were unaware of the time change. When they arrived at the designated meeting point, we were still 35 minutes from the Children’s Day destination. Upon arrival, we immediately began making balloon animals. Our English friends, Wayne and Wendy Robinson, were pumping up balloons as fast as they could, but not fast enough for the kids. Then 2 non-Christian Thai friends, along with 3 other Thai men we didn’t know, had pity and came over to help pump balloons. Thanks to them we were finally able to keep up with the number of children wanting balloon animals. We stood for 3 ½ hours making around 1,000 balloon animals and passing out picture booklets on the life of Jesus. At the end, everyone was very tired. Fingers were red and sore from tying knots in the balloons and legs wobbly from standing. However, everyone had the gratification of knowing that the Word of God got into the hands of many children and their parents. (We forgot our camera. The file picture above is from last year’s event)

Class for Seekers and New Christians

This group began out of Richard’s concern that some Thais who had been baptized several months ago were not being discipled at Krabi Baptist Church. Thus, he started teaching Chronological Stories in Thai at the church. Each Sunday morning he has four adults come regularly. These young adults are either new in the faith or in the case of one young man, a Muslim. When finished with the course, they will have a strong foundation in the Christian faith. Pray for God to work in a mighty way among these Thais attending.

Sickness

Thailand was blessed with some wonderfully cool weather in January. However, it brought Richard & I ear infections, sore throats, bronchitis, tonsillitis and the flu. So far, two weeks of sickness. Normally, Thais go to the government hospital for medical care. There are general clinic times from 8-12 and then from 1-3 in the afternoon in which one can see dermatologists, ENT or orthopedic specialists, and even psychiatrists. Normally, we go to a private doctor’s clinic, but some days it is inconvenient for our schedule, so we go to the hospital. The last time at the hospital we waited about two and half hours to see the doctor and get medicine. However, you can’t complain very much when the cost for doctor and medicine is less than $35.

Prayer & Praise

1. Praise God for the help we got from Wendy and Wayne Robinson and three non-Christians blowing up balloons and being able to pass out 1,000 booklets (on the Life of Jesus) on Children’s Day.
2. Continue to pray that the adults and children in Tung Pru will understand the truth from the Bible lessons and become part of God’s family.
3. Recently we have met Thais who say that they are Christians. However, they have no real interest in studying the Bible. Pray that some of these will become open and join us in starting churches in Khao Phanom and Blai Praya districts.
4. Pray that as we teach English to Blai Praya police, that their will be a spiritual hunger to know more about Christ.
5. Pray for God to give us many natural opportunities to proclaim the Gospel with Thais as we go about our daily lives.
6. Lee, a Thai Muslim, is studying the Bible with Richard. Pray that Lee will become more open and accept God’s salvation through Jesus Christ.
7. Pray that the members of Krabi Baptist will become more evangelical and active in our ministry in the province.